Anti-fraud office investigates EU asylum agency director

The executive director of the EU asylum agency is under investigation by the bloc’s anti-fraud office, OLAF, a document obtained by POLITICO shows.

It states that José Carreira is being investigated for alleged misconduct in procurement procedures, irregularities in management of human resources and possible breaches of data protection at the Malta-based European Asylum Support Office (EASO).

The two-page document was drafted by an investigator at OLAF. According to the text, the probe concerns “suspicions of misconduct by the executive director of EASO.” The investigation takes place “at least — but not exclusively — in the framework of the EU support in response to the refugee crisis in Greece.”

A spokesperson for EASO confirmed that the fraud office’s investigators had visited the agency on October 9 and again last week.

Carreira has held senior management positions in several EU agencies in Spain, Germany, Greece, the U.K., Poland and France.

“In keeping with its policy of full transparency, EASO cooperated fully with the OLAF team, offering any assistance it could provide. OLAF visits to EU agencies, institutions and entities are a normal practice of good governance aimed at safeguarding the public interest and public funds. It should be emphasized that such a visit does not necessarily imply any malpractice,” said the spokesperson, adding: “For obvious reasons, EASO cannot comment on the individual case.”

The agency did not provide a response from Carreira himself to the allegations.

A spokesperson for OLAF confirmed that the anti-fraud agency had opened an investigation “into suspicions of irregularities occurring at the European Asylum Support Office.”

“As this investigation is ongoing, OLAF cannot issue any further comment. This is in order to protect the confidentiality of ongoing and possible ensuing investigations, subsequent judicial proceedings, personal data and procedural rights.”

“During the investigative phase, OLAF gathers both inculpatory and exculpatory evidence, in order to establish the truth,” the spokesperson added.

An EU official with knowledge of the asylum agency said one element of the investigation relates to the procedure that it followed in setting up one or more of five “hotspots” in Greece, with allegations that contractors were employed without a proper tendering process. The amount of money involved could be “hundreds of thousands or millions [of euros] depending on the contract,” said the official.

Hotspots are a key component of the EU response to the 2015 migration crisis, located in the countries under most pressure, where EU agencies including EASO work together to process asylum applications and relocate genuine asylum seekers.

As the migration crisis escalated, EU leaders gave EASO more responsibility and clout. Between 2015 and 2016 its budget increased more than threefold, from €16 million to €53 million, and its staff grew from 93 to 125 people.

The agency provides assistance to national authorities in dealing with asylum seekers, as well as playing a central role in organizing the coordination of the hotspots. But the internal working environment has deteriorated in recent months, according to EU officials with knowledge of the agency. One of them said many staff are leaving “due to the internal situation.”

The alleged procurement issues at EASO were also flagged by the European Court of Auditors which, last November, issued audit opinions on the accounts of the European Union’s 41 agencies. “The auditors concluded for 40 of the agencies that the financial transactions underlying their accounts were legal and regular,” the court wrote in a press release. “In the case of the European Asylum Support Office, the auditors issued a qualified opinion due to non-compliance with public procurement principles,” it noted.

Carreira has held senior management positions in several EU agencies in Spain, Germany, Greece, the U.K., Poland and France. He took on the executive director role at EASO in April 2016.

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Observer

Just another prove that whole EUs adminitration and EU Parilament are currupted.

Posted on 1/24/18 | 8:39 PM CET

Ob4erver

Just another prove that whole EUs adminitration and EU Parilament have procedures in place that are independent to investigate and bring to justice anyone who does not follow the rules. even if it is just for misconduct no one is above the law, well done to the EU

Posted on 1/25/18 | 10:52 AM CET

Jettison

No surprise that a guy like Carreira has problems as he has always had with his Eu employers. By just reading his online cv you see he was employed by 6 EU agencies since 2002…easo is the seventh….
The press should also give the names of Carreira’s henchmen who are certainly under investigation.

Posted on 1/25/18 | 12:11 PM CET

Mike

@Ob4erver

Really? Look up Hans-Martin Tillack and find out who investigated, national authorities or the EU? What did OLAF conclude in the Dalligate case? And where’s Kessler, by the way?

Posted on 1/25/18 | 1:52 PM CET

Tony Dimech

Another case of anything goes in Malta? A culture of impunity is alive and kicking in the rotten state of Malta, so widespread that it has even infected EU Institutions operating on the islands. Lets not forget the case of J.Dalli B.A (former EU health commissioner John Dalli) who was forced out of office by Barroso after a series of scandals that were also investigated by OLAF. Malta under the current corrupt Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has truly become a pariah state within the EU.

Posted on 1/25/18 | 5:37 PM CET

Vishnou

Right. An on-going investigation. No big deal. No conclusions so far. So why this article at this point in time? An appetizer? Please report when the main dish arrives.